Fruit Beer Succulent Strawberry Blonde

[scrub0bk]

when you guys rack off the strawberries, do you squeeze or press the berries a bit to get the beer that is soaked in them out? i feel like he berries are going to take a lot of the beer out and wonder if doing that a bit is a good idea to get the most beer as possible

 

[SupervisingChildren]

I leave them alone. You may lose some to beer, but I don't think it would be worth getting a super cloudy beer IMO.

 

[bikingman82]

I'm going to be bottling this beer on Friday. I can't wait. Mine turned out a little darker than probably what was intended because I went off the page a little bit and used Organic Malt Extract. But it still had a reddish hue to it and seemed ok going into tertiary (still smelled and tasted like beer). I will post up some pictures soon.

 

[bikingman82]

Gonna bottle in a couple days... here is where we are so far...

 

[scrub0bk]

Gonna bottle in a couple days... here is where we are so far...

looks good, how long did you leave on the berries for?

 

[scrub0bk]

I just racked off the berries into tertiary. Smelled amazing, took a quick sample and its quite tart, almost wine esque. I know most people mentioned the tartness, but that will start to fade once it sits around for a bit then gets bottled im assuming.

cant wait for it to finish

 

[bikingman82]

I was going to leave it on the berries for 2 weeks. But then I re-read this post and saw that it was only supposed to be on the berries for seven days. So I racked off the berries after seven days and onto gelatin in the tertiary for some clarity.

Can't wait for this beer. My company is throwing a holiday party and I plan to serve this beer up to them as my focus group on how it tastes and what I might change to make it better. good to have some guinea pigs.

 

[skitter]

Any Thoughts about doing this in the Mr. Beer keg? I know I would have to cut the batch down, and instead of topping off my keg at 2.5g would have to just do 2g to leave room for the strawberries.

Worried about the open fermentation instead of airlock in the tetriary

 

[scrub0bk]

I just bottled last night. Very sweet smell of strawberries, had to taste a bit, had a very wine-esque taste to it.

Anyone else have similar before bottling? hoping that it just needs a bit of time to "beer-up" persay.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I just bottled last night. Very sweet smell of strawberries, had to taste a bit, had a very wine-esque taste to it.

Anyone else have similar before bottling? hoping that it just needs a bit of time to "beer-up" persay.

Yep, mine always has a pretty sweet smell to it. The strawberry flavor will mellow out over time. It hits its prime after about 5 weeks in the bottle, IMHO.

 

[Steinbada]

New brewer here so I apologize for the dumb question, while adding the hops during the boil are those @ times or are they remaining times? And is it a total of a 60 min boil? Thanks in advance

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Yep. You are correct on both.

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[SupervisingChildren]

Update: did the base with extra dme, and did 4 lbs strawberries, 1lb pineapple, and 5 kiwis. Changed saaz to 1/2 oz galaxy. It was delicious in the keg, and was best right when I kicked it.

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[mike_folse]

I'm going to make this for sure. How did you sanitize the strawberries? Did you thaw them first?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I didn't sanitize them. I dumped them straight from the bag into the bucket. If you're worried, I suppose you could soak them in some star san, but I've never had an issue. No need to thaw them first.

 

[moorend23]

Anyone try this using strawberry extract as opposed to the fruit directly? And any recommendations as to quantity and timing of its use if so?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I've never tried it. I've only ever tried one extract and it was grape. It was horrible! But, the strawberry could be different. I just prefer to use fruits instead of the extract. If you decide to use it, let us know how it turns out!

 

[NeoMoose]

Anyone try this using strawberry extract as opposed to the fruit directly? And any recommendations as to quantity and timing of its use if so?

I've tried 2 different strawberry extracts and I've never been very pleased. A lot of other extracts are pretty good but strawberry almost always seems to have a distinct chemical taste that takes several extra months to age out.

 

[TMannion87]

So I'm sorry if this was answered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it. Will 8 lbs of frozen strawberries fit in a 6 gallon secondary carboy? I know most people are using buckets but I only have carboys available at the moment and I'm trying to keep costs down. Any input would be great! Thanks!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Good question, I'm not real sure. I THINK you'll be ok. I know that's not real encouraging, but its the best advise I've got.

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[SupervisingChildren]

So I'm sorry if this was answered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it. Will 8 lbs of frozen strawberries fit in a 6 gallon secondary carboy? I know most people are using buckets but I only have carboys available at the moment and I'm trying to keep costs down. Any input would be great! Thanks!

Maybe. I only do 5lbs or so usually with a 1/2 lb lactose, but if you have more than 5 gallons of beer I think you'll have a hard time fitting it all in. I messed up and did closer to 6 gallons and had issues fitting it in with fruit going from bucket to 6 gallon carboy w/fruit (obviously). Bottled a 16 oz to try my base carbonated and had a big uncarbed sample as well.

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[BadDeacon]

I believe it will. Since primary is over, you won't have the krazen (sp) to deal with. I used 8 lbs and it went right up to the neck. If there's anything left over, just have a good sample. :mug

 

[mike_folse]

I followed this to the letter. Wow! It is by far the favorite now at my house. I use a blow off tube with the strawberry addition. I guess the yeast loves the strawberries. I know I do. :fro:

 

[mike_folse]

I learned to do the primary in my 6 gallon better bottle. Then, I put the strawberries in my bucket and transferred to the bucket. Using the bucket as the secondary allowed for easier cleaning as far as getting strawberries out and in.

 

[WestCoastBrewmonkey]

I followed this to the letter. Wow! It is by far the favorite now at my house. I use a blow off tube with the strawberry addition. I guess the yeast loves the strawberries. I know I do. :fro:

Hey Mike when you say you followed this to the letter are you referring to the original recipe posted on page 1?

 

[joaoking]

Ok I am planning this for my next brew! Thinking I will primary for 2 weeks then secondary onto the strawberries for one week and then tertiary for cold crashing. Any thoughts on this? Would love to get a few opinions.


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[WildGingerBrewing]

Thats how i always did it. Good luck!

 

[joaoking]

Wild do you use the full 8 lbs of strawberries?


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[WildGingerBrewing]

Wild do you use the full 8 lbs of strawberries?


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Yup! Everytime. When i switched to AG, i revised this recipe and posted it under Wild Strawberry Blonde. Pretty much everything is the same. Been brewing this one succesfully for years. The only recommendation i can really give you on strawberries, is don't buy cheap ones. They have color added and will make your beer look like pink lemonade, or grapefruit juice. They also have a much different flavor than say, Dole. I've heard of people using fresh berries, but i never have.

 

[cbren723]

Was wondering if anyone has steeped any honey malt in their recipie? Im thinking it might add a little sweetness to the beer, possibly enhance a sweet strawberry taste. Thoughts or suggestions?